Quality Hatching Eggs: an Informational Perspective about Process and Quality

The Production of Hatching Eggs

The quality hatching eggs process starts with the incubation period which lasts 21 days. Commercial incubators create the best possible environment for hatching eggs to enable embryos to develop correctly. There is a series of factors that need to be closely monitored and checked during this process: humidity, temperature, egg rotation or changing of egg position. If there are any failures or errors during the three weeks of incubation, life and health of chicks may be at stake. Fertility and expected hatchability is checked through the candling process which usually takes place between the seventh and tenth day of incubation, although there may be some variations.

Producing Quality Hatching Eggs

Quality is the key to success and it may be perceived from different angles. It all starts at the farm where the eggs are laid, collected and prepared for transport. The flocks that quality hatching eggs come from must be in good production ages. Genetics are the bases of course and this needs to be backed up by indepth knowledge and experience of the farm personnel. Uniformity and continuity is one of the basic references when it comes to quality. Management and monitoring are other factors. That is why Comercial Solana works with experienced hatching egg farms that continuously obtain excellent results.

One of important factors in egg quality is the egg shell. It is a natural protective layer characterised by high porosity that keeps the embryo in safe and adequate conditions and also allows for any gas and moisture exchange with the outside. Therefore, any kinds of malformation, decolouration, texture deviation, cracks and thinness of the shell which may lead to leakage and broken egg shell surface are dangerous to the future of the chick. Apart from an increased shell breakage, thin shelled eggs experience a higher water vapour loss which may lead to dehydration and higher risk of mortality. For the same reasons egg shells need to be clean, as otherwise a threat of contamination is growing and this may lead to complications and illnesses that could develop later on.

When we think of hatching egg quality and hatchability we also have to tackle the topic of fertility. This is something that is dependant on well reared, lean and active males, genetics, age of flocks, stress and other factors that may be out of reach for hatcheries if they buy the eggs from outside. But there is no doubt that what happens with the eggs, between the time they are collected until they reach their destination and are placed into incubators, has an important impact on the final outcome.

Higher than normal mortality of embryos or chicks may also be caused by external factors during transport. This is the reason why Comercial Solana seeks to supervise the process and have the best logistics solutions in place. Temperature, humidity during transport and egg handling on long distances ought to be carefully managed and must fulfil general international standards.

Ensuring everything goes well is our role and we are happy to carry out these tasks and we are always delighted by all the positive feedback from our clients after the eggs hatch.

After all, quality can never be underestimated. Quality eggs produce quality chicks and when chicks are healthy we can observe a full expansion of their genetic potential.